Excellence in education was rewarded last night on the stage of the Metropolis Theater in Bucharest, during the Exceptional Teachers Gala, organized by the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania. The event was the culmination of the national Exceptional Teachers League campaign, a comprehensive initiative that honors performance, innovation, and vocation in Romanian education.
The event, which has already become an annual landmark for excellence in education in Romania, brought together teachers who have shaped destinies, leaders in the field of education, representatives of the authorities, journalists, and supporters of a modern and high-quality school system. At the opening of the event, Pr. Prof. Cosmin Pricop, dean of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest, conveyed the congratulations and encouragement of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. The message emphasized that projects promoting education and excellence, such as the Exceptional Teachers League, will always benefit from the attention and support of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
The spotlight was on the three big winners of the campaign, selected from thousands of exceptional teachers across the country.
The first prize went to Nicoleta Adriana Schipor, a food engineering teacher at the Andronic Motrescu College in Rădăuți. With a career dedicated to performance, she has trained students who have won important prizes at the National Food Industry Olympiad, carried out educational projects in areas such as entrepreneurship, online safety, and financial education, transforming her classes into real-life laboratories.
Second place went to Ana Elena Ungureanu, math teacher and assistant principal at the "Profesor Mihai Dumitriu" High School in Valea Lupului, Iași. Ana Elena Ungureanu is the creator of the ASQ.ro digital platform—a valuable tool used today by thousands of teachers in Romania. Her educational leadership is reflected in a school community of nearly 2,000 students and a model of effective organization.
Third place went to Marina Sacerdoțeanu, an English teacher at the Take Ionescu Secondary School in Râmnicu Vâlcea. For over two decades, Marina Sacerdoțeanu has been inspiring generations with her energy and interdisciplinary approaches. She founded the "La Școala cu Ceas" National Competition and has coordinated European projects, teaching various subjects in English as part of Erasmus+ tandem teaching programs.
The final ranking was determined by public vote, following a judging stage carried out by a committee of education experts. Over 250,000 online votes were cast during the campaign, sending a strong signal of public interest in recognizing authentic values in education. The Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania awarded the winner of the first place with a merit scholarship worth 30,000 lei, the second place with 20,000 lei, and the third place with 10,000 lei. All finalists in the campaign were rewarded with educational materials provided by the campaign partners: RAO Publishing House, Leonidas, Lamy, Brain Map Neuro Science, and Poenari.
In addition to the awards ceremony, the Exceptional Teachers Gala was also an opportunity for dialogue and reflection. Special guests—representatives of the Romanian Parliament, academia, school inspectorates, and cultural figures—emphasized the essential role that teachers play in shaping an educated, equitable, and competitive Romania.
